Published date:Mar 07 2019

Journal Title: International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine

Issue title: International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine (IJRM): Volume 17, Issue No. 1

Pages:41 - 50

DOI: 10.18502/ijrm.v17i1.3819

Maryam Zamani

Robab Latifnejad Roudsarilatifnejadr@mums.ac.ir

Maryam Moradi

Habibollah Esmaily

Background: Many couples experience decreasing sexual satisfaction in postpartum period. Various sexual health counseling approaches have been designed for postpartum women to address their common sexual concerns and problems.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Women’s Postpartum Sexual Health Program (WPSHP) on women’s sexual satisfaction in postpartum period.

Materials and Methods: The study was a single blind randomized clinical trial on 75 postpartum women aged 18–35 yr with low sexual satisfaction who attended urban health-care centres in Mashhad, Iran in 2016. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21, and the Larson Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire. The intervention group received counselling based on the WPSHP, a four-session, group- and couples-based program. The control group  just received postpartum routine care.

Results: Both the intervention and control groups were homogeneous for demographic variables. According to the Mann-Whitney test, sexual satisfaction score in the  intervention group was significantly higher than the control group 8 weeks after the intervention (p < 0.001). According to the Wilcoxon test, there was a significant difference in the mean score of sexual satisfaction before and after intervention in the intervention group (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: WPSHP caused higher levels of sexual satisfaction. It is therefore recommended to use this program in women during the postpartum period to promote their sexual satisfaction.

Key words: Sexual satisfaction, Sexual counseling, Sexual health, Postpartum.

[1] Haavio-Mannila E, Kontula O. Correlates of increased sexual satisfaction. Arch Sex Behav 1997, 26: 399–419.

[2] Young M, Denny G, Young T, Luquis R. Sexual satisfaction among married women age 50 and older. Psychol Rep 2000, 16: 1107–1122.

[3] Alves MG, Vieira R. T10-O-01 Facts that influence the feminine sexuality after the childbirth. Sexologies 2008,
17: S139.

[4] Petch J, Halford WK. Psycho-education to enhance couples’ transition to parenthood. Clin Psychol Rev 2008, 28:1125–1137.

[5] Signorello LB, Harlow BL, Chekos AK, Repke JT. Postpartum sexual functioning and its relationship to perineal trauma: a retrospective cohort study of primiparous women. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001, 184: 881–890.

[6] Sok C, Sanders JN, Saltzman HM, Turok DK. Sexual behavior, satisfaction, and contraceptive use among postpartum women. J Midwif Women’s Health 2016, 61: 158–165.

[7] Khajehei M, Doherty M, Tilley PJ, Sauer K. Prevalence and risk factors of sexual dysfunction in postpartum Australian women. J Sex Med 2015, 12: 1415–1426.

[8] Leeman LM, Rogers RG. Sex after childbirth: postpartum sexual function. Obstet Gynecol 2012, 119: 647–655.

[9] Johnson CE. Sexual health during pregnancy and the postpartum. J Sex Med 2011, 8: 1267–1284.

[10] Woolhouse H, McDonald E, Brown SJ. Changes to sexual and intimate relationships in the postnatal period: women’s experiences with health professionals. Aust J Prim Health2014, 20: 298–304.

[11] Olsson A, Lundqvist M, Faxelid E, Nissen E. Women’s thoughts about sexual life after childbirth: focus group
discussions with women after childbirth. Scand J Caring Sci 2005, 19: 381–387.

[12] Trutnovsky G, Haas J, Lang U, Petru E. Women’s perception of sexuality during pregnancy and after birth. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 2006, 46: 282–287.

[13] Buurman MB, Lagro-Janssen AL. Women’s perception of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction and their helpseeking behaviour: a qualitative interview study. Scand J Caring Sci 2013, 27: 406–413.

[14] Hyde JS DJ, Hewitt EC. Sexuality and the dualearner couple: Multiple roles and sexual functioning. J Family
Psychology 1998: 354–368.

[15] Kline CR, Martin DP, Deyo RA. Health consequences of pregnancy and childbirth as perceived by women and
clinicians. Obstet Gynecol 1998, 92: 842–848.

[16] Sayasneh A, Pandeva I. Postpartum Sexual Dysfunction: A literature review of risk factors and role of mode of delivery. BJMP 2010, 3: 316–320.

[17] Lee JT, Tsai JL, Tsou TS, Chen MC. Effectiveness of a theory-based postpartum sexual health education program on women’s contraceptive use: a randomized controlled trial. Contraception 2011, 84: 48–56.

[18] Yörük F, Karaçam Z. The Effectiveness of the PLISSIT Model in Solving Postpartum Sexual Problems Experienced by Women. Athens Journal of Health 2016, 3: 235–237.

[19] Abdool Z, Thakar R, Sultan AH. Postpartum female sexual function. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2009, 145:133–137.

[20] Collier F. When a couple wants a baby: What are the consequences on their sexuality? Sexologies 2010, 19:
143–146.

[21] Demyttenaere K, Gheldof M, Van Assche FA. Sexuality in the postpartum period: a review. Curr Obstet Gynaecol 1995; 5: 81–84.

[22] McBride HL, Kwee JL. Sex after baby: women’s sexual function in the postpartum period. Current Sexual Health Reports 2017, 9: 142–149.

[23] McBride HL, Olson S, Kwee J, Klein C, Smith K. Women’s postpartum sexual health program: A collaborative and integrated approach to restoring sexual health in the postpartum period. J Sex Marital Ther 2017, 43: 147–158.

[24] Karimi A, Dadgar S, Afiat M, Rahimi N. [The effect of sexual health education on couples sexual satisfaction.] Iran J Obstet Gynecol Infertil 2013; 15: 23–30. (in Persian)

[25] Bahrami N, Yaghoob zadeh A, Sharif Nia H, Soliemani MA, Haghdoost AA. [Validity and reliability of the persian version of Larson sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire in couples.] J Kerman Univ Med Sci 2016; 23: 344–356. (in Persian)

[26] Asghari A, Saed F, Dibajnia P. Psychometric properties of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) in a non-clinical Iranian sample. Int J Psychol 2008; 2: 82–102.

[27] Hipp LE, Kane Low L, van Anders SM. Exploring women’s postpartum sexuality: Social, psychological, relational, and birth-related contextual factors. J Sex Med 2012; 9: 2330–2341.

[28] Basson R. Women’s sexual dysfunction: revised and expanded definitions. CMAJ 2005; 172: 1327–1333.

[29] Zamani M, Latifnejad Roudsari R, Moradi M, Esmaily H. Effect of Sexual Counseling on Stress, Anxiety, and
Depression in Women during Postpartum Period. Evidence Based Care Journal 2017; 7: 17–26

[30] Zamani M, Latifnejad Roudsari R, Moradi M, Esmaeeli H. The relationship between frequency of breastfeeding and sexual distress in postpartum women. J Midwifer Reprod Health 2018, 6: 1447–1453.

[31] Gamble J, Creedy D, Moyle W, Webster J, McAllister M, Dickson P. Effectiveness of a counseling intervention after a traumatic childbirth: a randomized controlled trial. Birth 2005; 32: 11–19.